Balistes vetula Cladus: Eukaryota Name Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758 Reference Balistes vetula Report on ITIS Vernacular names Balistes vetula, also known as the queen triggerfish, is a reef dwelling fish of the Atlantic Ocean. It is occasionally caught as a gamefish, and sometimes kept in marine aquaria. Appearance It is a large fish that reaches 60cm in length. It is typically brown with blue lines on its fins and head. It can change colour somewhat to match its surroundings, or if subjected to stress. Ecology and Range The queen triggerfish is found on coral rubble, tops of reefs and in grassy areas, normally at depths of 3-20 M. It preys on a variety of invertebrates, notably sea urchins. It is reasonably common throughout the subtropical and tropical western Atlantic, from Trinidad west to Texas north to the Bahamas.[1] In the aquarium As one of the largest and most aggressive of the triggerfish, this fish is rarely a good choice as a resident in a marine aquarium. It is however a hardy fish for those who can provide it with a proper environment. Because it grows so large and so quickly the ideal aquarium for this fish is a 500 gallon aquarium. Although some sources argue it can be kept in as little a tank as 125 gallons, when it achieves its adult size of two feet it is unlikely to thrive. Its diet consists of invertebrates. In aquariums shrimp, squid, clams, octopus, scallops, and crab are all good choices of food.
A queen triggerfish at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
* Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Balistes vetula" in FishBase. April 2009 version. 1. ^ Humann (1989), pp. 226-27.
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